Search and rescue exercise held off Maui
The U.S. Coast Guard and local first responders conducted a search and rescue exercise off Kapalua on Thursday, simulating a report of a lost kayaker to help agencies prepare to work together in a real emergency scenario.
Participating agencies included the Coast Guard, Maui Fire Department, Maui Police Department, Maui County Emergency Medical Services, American Medical Response, Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services.
“The purpose is to continue building and improving operational cohesion between other agencies and the Coast Guard,” Senior Chief Petty Officer Malia Chasteen, officer in charge of Coast Guard Station Maui, said in a news release Friday. “Holding these annual exercises builds and bolsters strong relationships which enhance communication and hone best practices to ensure real world events are well coordinated to increase the probability of success while searching for those in distress.”
The response exercise took place over two days and included a planning, safety and communication meeting and a resource open house on Wednesday. The full-scale open-water exercise was held Thursday where an incident command post was established near Olowalu Beach Park.
The exercise simulated a report of an overdue kayaker a mile offshore. Partners deployed their assets and the kayaker was located by an Ocean Safety Jet Ski operator who brought them to shore for emergency medical services drills.
“This opportunity to learn each other’s capabilities and protocols is invaluable,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Chadwick Kyffin, training petty officer for Station Maui. “We get a chance to figure out how to better integrate so we can be as functional as possible when something real goes down.”
Coast Guard Sector Honolulu personnel hold search and rescue exercises annually throughout Hawaii. They are designed to evaluate notification and response procedures and identify shortfalls in communication and coordination of response during search and rescue incidents.